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Police nab trio on “crime spree” after high-speed chase

The Daily World

After a high speed pursuit, a foot chase and a Taser, police have taken three people into custody they believe were on a “crime spree” including burglaries and vehicle prowls, according to the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, a 48-year-old Montesano man interrupted a man breaking into his truck at the Humptulips River boat launch off of State Route 109 north of Hoquiam. He saw a silver Dodge Durango next to his vehicle with a man standing nearby when he heard a woman yell, prompting the man to jump into the vehicle and flee toward Hoquiam.

“Deputies responded to the scene and found that two pickups had been broken into by smashing out the rear windows and various items had been taken to include money, prescription medication, sunglasses, etc.,” Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate wrote in a press release.

The Montesano man was able to give a description of the suspect and the license plate number of the Durango. At about 10 a.m., a Washington State Patrol trooper reported he was behind the SUV on SR 109 just outside Hoquiam.

When he tried to stop the Durango, the driver sped off into the city.

The trooper pursued the vehicle to the 500 block of Tyler Street before the driver stopped, got out and tried to run away. The trooper gave chase and deployed his Taser, then took the man into custody.

“He was found to be a 50-year-old Aberdeen resident with an extensive criminal history,” Shumate reported.

Two women were in the Durango: a 22-year-old Aberdeen resident and a 26-year-old from Ocean Shores. The women were also arrested for the vehicle prowls.

During the investigation, officers came to believe the trio was on a crime spree, starting with multiple burglaries in Ocean Shores earlier that morning. The Ocean Shores Police Department is investigating those burglaries, with the 50-year-old as the suspect.

The three are also suspected of a theft from a business in Hogan’s Corner before stopping at the boat launch to break into vehicles.

All three are held in Grays Harbor County Jail, suspected of the vehicle prowls with additional charges pending. The man had a felony warrant for a July burglary, and is now facing additional burglary charges as well as eluding a police vehicle, theft, trespass and drug charges.